Mapping of Public Spaces in Kigali: Towards City-Wide Public Space Strategy June 2020 Copyright © June 2020 The Global Green Growth Institute Jeongdong Building 19F 21-15, Jeongdong-gil Jung-gu, Seoul, 100-784 Republic of Korea The Global Green Growth Institute does not make any warranty, either express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or any third party’s use or the results of such use of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed of the information contained herein or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Global Green Growth Institute. Cover Image © Ilija Gubic Acknowledgements This report is drafted by Ilija Gubic of the Global Green Growth Institute and Solange Muhirwa of the City of Kigali with technical inputs by Inyumba Architectural Design LTD. Review of this report was done by Eric Hakizimana of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Dr. Ernest Nsabimana of the City of Kigali as well as Lilian Uwanziga Mupende of Global Green Growth Institute. Report is edited by Pamela Birungi of Global Green Growth Institute and designed by Inyumba Architectural Design LTD. This rapid assessment report is prepared to inform the much broader strategy of city’s public spaces, to support work of the Ministry of Infrastructure on reporting on average share of built up area of cities that is open and green for public use and above all will be a baseline for “Kigali Yacu: Activating Public Outdoor Space One Bench at a Time” initiative led by the City of Kigali. TABLE OF CONTENTS Mapping Public Spaces for the City of Kigali 5 Map of the City of Kigali with District and Sector boundaries 6 Mapping of Public Spaces in Kigali: Towards City-Wide Public Space Strategy 8 Gasabo District Public Spaces 9 Kicukiro District Public Spaces 55 Nyarugenge District Public Spaces 85 Conclusion 118 Mapping Public Spaces for the City of Kigali Map of the City of Kigali with District and Sector Boundaries Mapping of Public Spaces in Kigali: Towards City-Wide Public Space Strategy The City of Kigali is actively working on Kigali previously organized an Urban Walk, strategies to develop more public open an initiative to provide information to spaces for its residents. The city worked citizens as well as access to public open together with its residents in allocating spaces and provided insights of the built spaces that could serve as public open heritage that such public open spaces spaces during the master plan revision are surrounded with. The City of Kigali is process. Results of the participatory process also promoting public open spaces with are well implemented in the revised master its designated “car-free zone” in the city plan, where main public spaces for the centre to reduce greenhouse gas emission city are indicated. The “City for Citizens” levels and encourage greater use of is among eight goals that have been public open space. The City of Kigali is developed to guide the Kigali City Master promoting car-free zones in different Plan, to ensure accessibility to equitable neighbourhoods in a bi-monthly event, urban opportunities and services and to inviting urban dwellers to spend time foster public engagement in the planning outside for events such as sports activities, process. With the Global Green Growth exhibitions, and performances. Institute, the City of Kigali documented those and other open spaces in the city as To continue with an important conversation a step towards the much broader action- on the power of architecture at any scale, oriented strategy of the city’s public open and the significant difference this can spaces, including “urban pockets”: small make to people’s experience and public open spaces serving mostly for the enjoyment of Kigali’s urban spaces, the City local community. of Kigali is launching an initiative: “Kigali Yacu: Activating Public Outdoor Space Mapped public open spaces in this report One Bench at a Time”. The objective of the belong to the governement of Rwanda initiative is to re-envision and re-engage the for ease of impementation for future street as a public open space. The initiative developmnents. This mapping and invites ideas to transform the street into assessment report provides information a public space through an infrastructure on the current state of spaces that could intervention, a seating-space. The be transformed into well designed and challenge is to design a public seating that implemented public open spaces. The can engage and transform the dynamics report suggests its possible use and lists on the street, triggering and sustaining details on urban furniture and other temporary (short) social and cultural infrastructure needed to turn space into transactions. This report would also serve as well designed public open spaces. a background study for the initiative. For rapidly urbanizing Kigali, public spaces The assessment shows that there are missing are a key element in ensuring social infrastructure and amenities that include cohesion and wellbeing with wide-ranging street lighting, safe access for people living benefits to security, public health, the with disability (handrails, ramps, signages) environment and others. The City of Kigali and public toilets. Those aspects should be is working on providing universal access introduced when public open spaces are to safe, inclusive and accessible, green designed and implemented. There is an and public spaces, in particular for women urgency of putting public open spaces and children, older persons and persons more prominently on the green city and with disabilities. With GGGI, the City of national planning agenda. GASABO DISTRICT PUBLIC SPACES GISOZI GAKIRIRO 1 Basic Shape: square,148 Sqm Infrastructure and amenities: parking, walkways Surrounding features: shops Accessibility: connected to the road Activities: street trade, walking, meeting The place serves as a public space for workers in Gakiriro although, at the time of the visit it was being used for storing construction materials for nearby ongoing road renovation project. The canopy tree attracts various individuals who are seeking for shade. This space is a meeting point in the center of Gakiriro. MUSEZERO 2 Basic Shape: irregular,linear 1950 Sqm Infrastructure and amenities: forest Surrounding features: road, residential area, crop field Accessibility: connected to the road Activities: none Along the road from Belle Etoil center, is a small forest which is often used as a resting place for passengers. The trees provide a shade and breeze that attracts passengers. With proper benches and lights along side the road, this linear public space could become more attrac- tive and safe. GISOZI CARRIERE 3 Basic Shape: irregular, 9000 Sqm Infrastructure and amenities: kiosk, bus stop, motorcycles parking, walkways, playground Surrounding features: church, residential area Accessibility: connected to the road Activities: none The space is located 400 m from the Kigali Genocide Memorial. It is next to a bus station. it serves as a playground for children. Space is fully in use although not being planned and designed as a public space. Proper pedestrian paths, urban furniture including benches and additonal equipment for children’s play can contribute to this space being fully utilized. KINAMBA GARDEN 4 Basic Shape: irregular, 3800 Sqm Infrastructure and amenities: drainage channel, greenery Surrounding features: road, shops Accessibility: connected to the road Activities: none The space is located at the junction of the Kinamba-Nyabugogo and Kinamba-Town roads. It is rich in greenery, however during rainy seasons, the space became unusable as it gets flooded. Space could benefit from lifted wooden platforms , benches oriented towards the waterway, and more greenery. KACYIRU 5 Basic Shape: irregular, 200 Sqm Infrastructure and amenities: kiosk, walkways Surrounding features: residential area Accessibility: connected to the road Activities: children playing This space would be mostly used by community members more greenery and well designed benches would allow community members to use the space more often. certain design ele- ments should be planned at the edges of the space to make clear separation of the roads, especially as children are using the KIMIHURURA POIDS 6 LOURDS Basic Shape: irregular, 25600Sqm Infrastructure and amenities: drainage channel, greenery, paved pathway Surrounding features: bus stop Accessibility: connected to the road Activities: walking The space is located in the junction of kimihurura-Downtown and Kanogo-Nyabugogo road is neighbouring a recreational zone. It is an open space rich in greenery and a variety of tree species. The drainage channel adds a waterscape feature to this space. This area is also part of the conserved wetlands in Kigali. Well planned pedestrian paths and urban furniture as benches, could contribute to more strategic use of the space. KIGALI BUSINESS CENTER 7 Basic Shape: rectangular, 480 Sqm Infrastructure and amenities: greenery, drainage channel, walkway Surrounding features: shops, offices, restaurants Accessibility: connected to the road Activities: none The eastgate of Kigali Business Center building seems like an open public space that could benefit from installing urban furniture. The KBC building is a multi-purpose business center hosting various activities like bars, restaurants, coffee shops and offices thus making the area a passing point for individuals of various age groups and making it active during most hours. if well designed, the space in front of KBC could be of better use for visitors and workers of KBC. KIGALI HEIGHTS 8 Basic Shape: irregular, 1960 Sqm Infrastructure and amenities: drainage channel, greenery Surrounding features: bus stop, university, office building, shops Accessibility: connected to the road Activities: none It is an open space rich in greenery and the tree species. The space is at the junction of three multipurpose medium rise buildings one of them hosting the university of Kigali and another being the Kigali Heights Building.